Elastic bandage and fastener therefor

ABSTRACT

The invention described is a new elastic bandage having a new fastener affixed thereto in permanent association on one end thereof. The bandage is hence capable of being tightened regardless of the direction of wrap. The fastener component comprises a structure preferably molded from a durable plastic which has a planar frame attached to a set of jaws on one end, side members connected thereto and a yolk member connected to and supported by said side members. Spaced apart from the jaws of the fastener is a tine mounted on the yolk member and spaced apart but positioned between the side members this tine faces the jaws. This tine is flexurally attached to the yolk by a base or thickened portion for flexure along a flex line such that the free end of the tine can be made to flex out of the plane of the frame by pressure exerted on one side or the other of the base of the tine.

United StatesPatent [191 Leveen ELASTIC BANDAGE AND FASTENER THEREFOR [76] Inventor: Harry H. Leveen, 800 Poly PL,

Brooklyn, NY. 11209 [22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 319,881

[52] U.S. Cl 24/85 R, 24/87 TB, 24/255 A, 128/171 [51] Int. Cl. A44b 21/00, A6lf 13/00 [58] Field of Search 128/165, 1.71; 24/49 P, 24/85 R, 85 B, 87 TB, 85 A, 87 R, 255

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 887,979 5/1908 Stockwell 24/255 A 892,752 7/1908 Malings 24/85 R 1,691,810 11/1928 ltzerott 24/87 TB 3,307,233 3/1967 Mahlmann et al 24/87 3,448,464 6/1969 Jonas 2/336 3,604,425 9/1971 LeRoy 24/255 A 51 Feb. 4, 1975 Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin 57 ABSTRACT The invention described is a new elastic bandage having a new fastener affixed thereto in permanent association on one end thereof. The bandage is hence capable of being'tightened regardless of the direction of wrap. The fastener component comprises a structure preferably molded from a durable plastic which has a planar frame attached to a set of jaws on one end, side members connected thereto and a yolk member connected to and supported by said side members. Spaced apart from the jaws of the fastener is a tine mounted on the yolk member and spaced apart but positioned between the side members this tine faces the jaws. This tine is flexurally attached to the yolk by a base or thickened portion for flexure along a flex line such that the free end of the tine can be made to flex out of the plane of the frame by pressure exerted on one side or the other of the base of the tine.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ELASTIC BANDAGE AND FASTENER THEREFOR BACKROUND OF THE INVENTION For many years elastic bandages and bandages and other supports used to wrap about various parts of the acute angle from one face thereof. When used one end of the clip is superimposed and dug into one end of the elastic bandage by the prongs on that end. The other end of the clip has its prongs dug into the subadjacent surface of the elastic wrap. This creates sufficient tension to hold'the bandage firm and the clip in place. However these small clips are frequently lost when the bandage is removed to permit bathing. A small safety pin is frequently substituted but is a very poor substitute for the pulling action of the prongs of the butterfly clip because of its tendency to slide to the side and loosen or lose pressure.

Recently a bandage structure has been proposed having a metal clip or fastener permanently attached thereto on one end of the bandage. It has prongs on one face as does the separate butterfly clip discussed above and one form even has a vertically positioned metal prong on the opposite face of the clip. However once the main long prongs are oriented by a wrap of the bandage-in a given direction the only way the location of the long prongs can be corrected is by an unwrapping of the bandage and a restart of the operation. since the long prongs are now permanent in their orientation the face of the clip cannot be reversed and the short prong has little gripping ability. Furthermore a washing of the bandage in a washing machine mixes a cloth having very sharp metal points in with other clothing and the, physical damage is obvious.

A need therefore has arisenfor a bandage assembly which possesses a permanently attached fastener which can be utilized regardless of the direction the bandage is wrapped. This bandage assembly must be capable of being washed and cleaned without damage to other fabrics or scratching the user. It must have a sufficiently long time or prong to exert force upon the elastic bandage it is securing. And finally it should be capable of being assembled in the hospital or dissembled if the need should arise.

OBJECTS OF THIS INVENTION bandage. Other objects of the invention will become clear as the invention is further described in the following specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly the present invention describes an elastic bandage and associated fastener combination which comprises an elastic bandage in varying widths and lengths having permanently affixed to one end thereof a'substantially planar fastener constituted of a material capable of flexure, preferably a plastic material of durable nature such as polyethylene or polypropylene resins although metals could also be employed. The fastener component comprises a planar frame attached to a set of jaws having side members thereof and a yolk supported by said side members and spaced apart from said jaws with the side members extending from the saidjaws to said yolk member. A planar tine or tines extend out from the yolk in the plane of the frame and are positioned between the side members yet spaced apart from them and the jaw members. The points of the tine face said jaws and the base of the tine is connected to the yolk member. Downward pressure exerted on the base of the tine causes the entire tine to move at least partially out of the plane of the frame and the side members and yolk. The base of the tine is flexurally at- Y tached at a flex line to the yolk. It has a lateral-protuberance also which has a purpose in mounting the fastener on the binder edge of the elastic bandage.

When the plastic fastener element is to be mounted permanently on the bound end of the bandage roll a pliers like tool. is employed. This tool has the jaws of a conventioal pliers but one jaw has a small tip or extension on one jaw which fits into a molded plastic arch or bridge on one of the jaws, of the fastener. When the jaws of the'pliers like tool surround the protuberance of the'base of the tine and the tip of one pliers jaw is inserted in the opening created by the arch or'bridge positioned onthe lateral face of the one jaw of the fastener and compression applied to the pliers like tool handles this forces apart the jaws of the fastener. The end of the bandage is inserted therein and the compression relaxed and the tool removed. The teeth of the fastener jaws clamp intothe bandage .end and are secured. If added security to the bandage is desired the plastic teeth now in contact through the cloth may be further secured by sonic sealing of the plastic.

The fastener device of the invention can be further illustrated by reference to FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawing. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fastener before it is incorporated into the bandage. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rolled up bandage fastener assembly showing the manner in which the fastener is hidden in the interior of the bandage. FIG. 3 is another perspective view this one being of the bandage applied to the leg. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the opening of the jaws of the fastener prior to assembly with the bandage. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the manner of the inset tion of the flexible tines into the bandage to tighten the same. 'Note the arrows showing the concurrent forces working down and to one side on the tine. The final view of FIG. 6 is a broken away sectional view of the flexure of the fastener tines.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawing the device shown comprises a flat or planar frame 1 of a low cost resin such as polyacetal which may vary in size but generally ranges from a thickness of l/32nd to l/l6th of an inch from k to about of an inch in width and from about 1% to 1 inch in length with the shorter dimensions being preferred. At one end of the frame 1 is a set of jaws 2 having a set of. opposed interlocking teeth 3 and 3' located on each jaw. It would be possible to omit one set of teeth if the plastic-contact points were sealed toghether by some means such as sonic plane of theframe of the fastener assumes an acute angle with the plane of the frame and is positioned to be dug into the exposed surface of the underneath layer of the elastic bandage as it is wrapped around an arm or leg of the patient for example. The arrangement of the various elements of the fastener is such that the tip 7 of the tine is free to engage the subadjacent surface of the elastic bandage by simple pivotal movement out of the plane of the frame by a pressure applied to either lateral face of the tine base 6 by the finger of the user. At the same time no points of the tine protrude from the plane of the fastener unless and until the tip and shaft of the tine is dug into the subadjacent layer of bandage.

As illustrated particularly by FIGS. 1 and 4 thebase of the tine 6 has protruding therefrom a jaw extender arch 10- which comprises a molded plastic arch which is cut off or removed from the fastener once it serves its purpose of aiding in the permanent assembly of the bandage and fastener as illustrated by FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 as well as FIG. 5. The function of this small arch of plastic is to afford a point of connection for a reverse pliers like tool which when placed in relation to the fastener and itsjaws 2 can force open those jaws by a compression exerted on the handle of the tool. When the jaws of the plier like tool open so do the jaws of the fastener open. This permits the fastener to be assembled on to the elastic stocking.

After the fastener clip -bandage is assembled it is made to function by pulling the wrapped bandage tight around the limb by means of the grip 9 which is on the remote end of the fastener from the jaws 2 which grip the bandage end. Then a downward pressure is applied to the base of the tine 6 to cause the tine to flex at flex line 8 with the frame remaining as it was before the flexure. The tine base 6 andthe tine tip 7 thus are free and in a position to be dug into a subadjacent cloth. since the tine is responsive to pressure in either direction it is of no matter which way the frame of the fastener is initially disposed with respect to the outer face of the elastic bandage to which theend of the roll is to be fastened.

The several appended claims define the scope of the concept of the invention even though a'number of variations appear to those skilled in the art having once seen my device it is material and my intention to claim all such variations.

I claim as my invention:

- 1. A fastener for elastic bandages'which comprises a structure having a planar frame attached toa set of jaws said frame having side members thereof and a yolk supported by said side members and spaced apart from said jaws, said side members connecting said jaws and said yolk, a tine positioned between said side members facing said jaws but spaced apart therefrom and also spaced apart from saidside members, said yolk, side members and tine 'all being in the same plane as the frame and jaws, said tine flexurally attached at its base to said yolk such that the free end or tip of. the tine can be made to flex out of the plane of the frame and jaws by pressure exerted on one side or the other of its planar face said jaws being releasable.

2. A fastener for elastic bandages which comprises:

a. a planar frame attached to a set of releasable jaws b; a connecting or core member of said frame extending between a crossv member or yoke at one end and said jaws at the other end of said core member supporting said yolk,

. a tine positioned between said jaws and said yolk having its base attached to the yolk and its shaft and points spaced apart from said core member and said jaws so thatthe tine is free to flex in and out of the plane of the frame in response to pressure on the tine base. 

1. A fastener for elastic bandages which comprises a structure having a planar frame attached to a set of jaws said frame having side members thereof and a yolk supported by said side members and spaced apart from said jaws, said side members connecting said jaws and said yolk, a tine positioned between said side members facing said jaws but spaced apart therefrom and also spaced apart from said side members, said yolk, side members and tine all being in the same plane as the frame and jaws, said tine flexurally attached at its base to said yolk such that the free end or tip of the tine can be made to flex out of the plane of the frame and jaws by pressure exerted on one side Or the other of its planar face said jaws being releasable.
 2. A fastener for elastic bandages which comprises: a. a planar frame attached to a set of releasable jaws b. a connecting or core member of said frame extending between a cross member or yoke at one end and said jaws at the other end of said core member supporting said yolk, c. a tine positioned between said jaws and said yolk having its base attached to the yolk and its shaft and points spaced apart from said core member and said jaws so that the tine is free to flex in and out of the plane of the frame in response to pressure on the tine base. 